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CHARLOTTESVILLE – A declared neo-Nazi who killed a woman and injured 35 others when he delivered his car to a group of counter-partisans at an infamous meeting of white supremacy, pleaded guilty for hate crimes in federal court Wednesday.
James Alex Fields Jr., 25, of Ohio, was convicted of 29 counts out of 30 under an agreement with prosecutors, who agreed that they would not ask for the death penalty in a case that now symbolizes the violent resurgence of white supremacy across the country. the country.
Last year, Fields was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the first-degree murder of 32-year-old Heather D. Heyer, and to dozens of others injured at the chaotic gathering. # 39; Unite the Right, August 12, 2017.
Guilty plea for hate-motivated crimes marks a dramatic turn for Fields, which attorneys claimed during his lawsuit in a state court that he had rushed to the crowd, fearing for his security and his confusion. They said that he immediately regretted his actions.
Fields entered the courtroom of the US District Courthouse in combination and gray-and-white striped handcuffs, but spoke little during the hearing. He has risen most of the time.
Attorney General William Barr, who approved the plea agreement, issued a statement after the hearing. The charges included a hate crime charge that resulted in the death of Heyer and 28 counts of hate crimes that resulted in injuries and an attempt to kill others in the crowd. Each of the 29 counts of indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
This undated file photo provided by Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields, who was convicted of a deadly car attack against a crowd of counter-partisans at a white nationalist rally. Virginia. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Prison via AP, File)
"As a result of the mass murder committed in New Zealand earlier this month, we are reminded that a diverse and pluralistic community such as ours may have zero tolerance for race-based violence, religion or association with people of other races and religions. Barr said in the statement. "Prosecuting hate crimes is a priority for me as Attorney General."
[[[[Fields sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal bombing of a car bomb in Charlottesville]
The violence of 2017 and President Trump's comments that there were "very good people" on both sides of the Charlottesville rally sparked strong criticism and renewed attention to the renewed forces of ethno-nationalism.
The events began on August 11 when far right groups mounted on the campus of the University of Virginia with a torchlight shouting: "The Jews will not replace us!". Fields was already on its way to Charlottesville and arrived the next day to protest the plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee with hundreds of others from the far right.
The event drew national media attention after protesters carrying Nazi flags and shouting racist epithets clashed violently with counter-protestors. The police eventually dispersed the groups.
Shortly after, Fields was driving his gray Dodge Charger to a group of counter-partners in a narrow street. He slowly retreated and then accelerated down a hill directly into the group.
A heartbreaking video, which was broadcast during the Fields trial, shows protesters rocking and screaming as the sports car breaks into the group. The fields then reverse at high speed, striking and dragging the others. Someone repeatedly repeats: "Oh my god, oh my god."
Heyer was killed, while others were seriously injured. A woman who limped to the podium at the Fields trial said she had five surgeries and was expecting a sixth. Another described a broken pelvis and a third how he pushed his fiance before he was hit by the Fields car.
Fields, who according to a mental health expert said he has been suffering from psychiatric problems since childhood and working as a security guard, has not denied having run into the crowd, but his lawyers have claimed that he had acted to protect himself.
But prosecutors strongly opposed this argument and the six-day trial jury finally dismissed it.
Three months before this accident, Fields showed the jurors an Instagram publication suppressed by Fields, which featured a car hitting a group of people. A legend said, "You have the right to protest, but I'm late for work."
A public prosecutor also showed an enlarged image of Fields in his car to counter the idea that he was afraid when he acted.
"This is not the face of someone who is scared," said Commonwealth Senior Counsel, Nina-Alice Antony. "It's the face of anger, of hate. It's the face of malice. "
After Fields was sentenced for 10 counts, Susan Bro, Heyer's mother, said she still struggled to deal with the loss of her daughter.
"So many emotions, so many reactions, it's really hard to deal with," she said, adding, "We're making progress. We still have social justice work to do. . . . Things for which Heather is dead, I do not see much progress in a year and a half. "
This is a story in development.
Read more:
A man arrested for fatally stabbing U-Md. will not face federal hate crime charges
Hateful acts may be on the rise, but will trials take place?
The former Portsmouth Police Chief says she's been forced out for fighting racism
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